O’Neill: Thinking of fires ahead but glorying in the wonder of plants and community

Casey O’Neill is a farmer and owner of Happy Day Farms in Laytonville, Calif. The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mendocino Voice. If you’d like to write your own column for The Mendocino Voice, send your idea to info@mendovoice.com.

Fire season approaches as the days lengthen and the grass grows tall. My thoughts turn to preparation, pulling the fire pump out of the shed, hooking it up to the tank and testing the sprinklers. Hoses, connectors and nozzles come out from winter storage and are deployed where they will be needed in a fire event.